"The DJ Pauly D Project" sends Pauly to Sin City

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Thursday night, Jersey Shore joined the ranks of reality television heavyweights, like E!’s “Keeping up with the Kardashians” and Bravo’s “Real Housewives,” as it pushed its firstborn spin-off on the air.

“The Pauly D Project” follows Pauly D, the most sensible "Jersey Shore" cast member, on a cross-country endeavor to fulfill his American dream. The journey begins in Rhode Island, where he toiled in obscurity as a car salesman and part-time DJ for a decade before making it big as the spiky-haired cab-announcer on MTV’s “Jersey Shore.”

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After an emotional goodbye to his father who is recovering from a stroke, he hits the road and heads west with a group of hometown buddies (a la “Entourage”), where he hopes to launch his career as DJ Pauly D.

What could prove to be a fatal plot flaw, The Chicago Tribune points out, is that Pauly D “already has a thriving career as a reality star, as evidenced by the show you’re watching (or not). Anything to the contrary is simply a fabrication to create a story line.”

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He also has a thriving career as a DJ. The Hollywood Scoop reported in April 2011 he was making $40,000 a set, and Sallyann Salsano, the show’s executive producer, told Entertainment Weekly that he’ll be pulling in $50,000 a night at the Palms in Vegas, where he'll be spinning throughout the season. So much for rising tension.

But that’s beside the point. Fans of the genre and “Jersey Shore” in particular will get exactly what they want: Extra doses of Pauly D dancing, drinking, spinning, coining new phrases, picking up women and interacting with the various childhood friends he’s recently employed. (“Big Jerry” Gialanella, Jason “JROC” Craig, Ryan Labbe and Mike “Biggie” Morgan will fill roles from bodyguard to social manager.)

There will also be a tour with Britney Spears and a recording contract with 50 Cent, both already known to the public, but again, beside the point.

The hype isn’t enormous, though some reviews indicate that it’s going to be better than "Jersey Shore," which has become a somewhat exhausting repetition of bickering and inaction. Breaking out of the Jersey routine could kick some fresh energy into the franchise, which has become more interesting off-air — with Snooki's pregnancy's and The Situation's rehab stint — than on.

To evaluate whether you have the appetite for the show, try the trailer below.